Achievement Awards

Achievement Awards

The ARCF presents the following awards to professionals in order to recognize their dedication and commitment in the respiratory care field. ARCF Trustees select the award recipients. Applications now being accepted. Deadline for nominations for each of the following awards will be June 15.

Awards include airfare, one night lodging and registration for AARC Congress. Awards presented at the AARC Awards Ceremony.

This annual achievement award was established in 2016 to honor the memory and legacy of Mitchell A. Baran, founder and Chairman of the Trudell Medical Group, a global manufacturer of medical devices. Monaghan Medical Corporation, the subsidiary of Trudell Medical, is a leading innovator in the evidence-based delivery of aerosolized medications and airway clearance therapies.

General Information

Throughout his long and distinguished career, Mr. Baran was unwavering in his commitment to the necessity of basing product development and subsequent application on a foundation of established scientific evidence, coupled with the clinical expertise of those using such devices.

An endowment has been established in the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF) to recognize and honor those individuals demonstrating clinical excellence and leadership in advocating and promoting the use of evidence-based, clinically sound practices for the delivery of aerosolized medications and/or the application of non-pharmacologic airway clearance therapies.

Recipients of this award will receive a cash prize of $2,500, a piece of engraved crystal and round-trip coach airfare, with two nights lodging and registration, to the Annual AARC Congress for the year in which the award is bestowed.

Eligibility and Nominating Procedure:

At the beginning of each calendar year, the ARCF will invite nominations for the Mitchell A. Baran award from the AARC’s Board of Medical Advisors (BOMA), the Board of Directors of the American Association for Respiratory Care, the Trustees of the American Respiratory Care Foundation, and the National Board for Respiratory Care. The ARCF Board of Trustees in consultation with the Board of Medical Advisors Chair will make the final selection for the award recipient. Eligible candidates will, at minimum, possess the registered respiratory therapist (RRT) credential and be an active member of the AARC for at least seven years. It is anticipated that nominees will also have a record of voluntary service to the AARC and/or related professional organizations, with special emphasis given to those individuals exhibiting demonstrable clinical leadership skills.

A completed nomination must include the following:

A description of the nominee’s professional background (i.e. a current curriculum vitae)

A detailed narrative describing the nominee’s achievements in advocating and promoting excellence in the delivery of aerosolized mediations, airway clearance therapy and the impact such activities have had on patients, their families, and other clinicians, and

A brief notation on clinical research activities undertaken to further and strengthen the knowledge base of aerosol medicine and non-pharmacologic airway clearance therapy.

Completed nominations must be received by the ARCF Executive Office no later than June 1 of the calendar year in which the award is to be bestowed.

Upon selection, the nominee will be so notified and invited to attend the Award Ceremony, held in conjunction with the AARC’s Annual Congress. The recipient of the award will also be invited to attend the annual BOMA Reception for further recognition and accolades.

Past Award Recipients

2019—Michael McPeck, RRT, FAARC

2018—Arzu Ari, PhD, RRT, PT, CPFT, FAARC

2017—Joseph L. Rau Jr., PhD, RRT, FAARC

2016—Gregory Burns, RRT

2015—Allison Anderson

2014—Kari Armstrong

2013—John W. Newhart, RRT, RCP

2012—Jinxiang Xi, PhD

2011—Maher Mubarak AlQuaimi

2010—Susan A. Roark

2009—Robert Chatburn, RRT-NPS, FAARC

2008—Arzu Ari, PhD

2007—Ken Thigpen, BS, RRT

2006—Lisa Cracchiolo, RRT

2005—Hui-Ling Lin, MS, RRT

2004—Kathy Ehlers, BA, RRT

2003—Christopher M. Piccuito, RRT

2002—Robert H. Estetter, RRT and Idichandi Idicula, MS, RRT

2001—Jason Higgins, RRT

2000—Christine Dillman, BA, RRT

1999—Dean R. Hess, PhD, RRT, FAARC

1998—Robert Dickerson, MS, RRT

1997—James B. Fink, MS, RRT and Rick Kita, RRT

1996—Michael McPeck, RRT

1995—James B. Fink, MS, RRT, RCP

1994—Robert Gorman, RRT

1993—Dean Hess, MEd, RRT

1992—Signe M. Renshaw

1991—Becky Dukart

Forrest M. Bird, MD, PhD, ScD Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award

This award was established in 1983 to acknowledge outstanding individual scientific contributions in the area of respiratory care of cardiopulmonary disorders with a grant from Dr. Forrest M. Bird, MD, PhD, ScD. Dr. Bird is the founder of Bird Products Corporation, a manufacturer of respiratory care equipment.

General Information

This award consists a plaque, coach airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for the AARC Congress.

Nomination Procedure Nominations will be invited from the AARC Board of Medical Advisors, the Board of Directors of the American Association for Respiratory Care, the Trustees of the American Respiratory Care Foundation, National Board for Respiratory Care and the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care.

Nominees must have authored (or co-authored) at least 25 peer reviewed publications listed on Pubmed.gov that: a) clearly demonstrate the important contributions that the nominee has made to the science of respiratory care; b) provide evidence that the nominee was a principal investigator/author on the work; and c) shows a commitment to scientific process. Previous award recipients have generally been established investigators at either teaching institutions or non-profit organizations and usually have in excess of 150 PubMed citations.

The nominating group is responsible for submitting the following: A complete and current biographical report on their nominee (curriculum vitae). Only one nominee (who is not a past recipient of the award) is allowed from each group.

A statement, including data, which indicates the basis for the nomination, keeping the principle criterion of “outstanding scientific contributions” in mind. They should illustrate the nominee’s impact on respiratory care through the training of physicians and therapists, noting their accomplishments, and through publications and lectures.

Hector Leon Garza, MD International Achievement Award

Established in 2005, this award was both named for, and first bestowed to, Dr. Garza for his groundbreaking work in bringing the respiratory care profession to his native Mexico. The achievement award was established with grants from the ARCF and Monaghan/Trudell to recognize respiratory therapists, physicians, and other health care providers who have had a profound impact on the development of international respiratory care.

General Information

Over the past decade, Dr. Garza has successfully established training programs for RTs in his country and has also founded the Asociación Mexicana de Terapia Respiratoria AC, where he currently serves as president. Dr. Garza works closely with the AARC’s International Council for Respiratory Care and received the designation of AARC Fellow (FAARC) in 2001.

The award includes a crystal sculpture, coach airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for the AARC Congress. The recipient will be selected by September 1, and the award presented at the AARC Awards Ceremony.

Nomination Procedure
Nominations will be invited from the International Council for Respiratory Care (ICRC). To be considered, nominees must exemplify a dedication to:

The advancement of safe, effective and ethical practice of respiratory care in their home country and at the International level.

Promoting the clinical practice and educational development of high quality respiratory outcomes.

Using evidence based standards of respiratory care appropriate to the special needs and resources of individual nations.

Dr. Charles H. Hudson Award for Cardiopulmonary Public Health

The annual award recognizes efforts to positively influence the public’s awareness of cardiopulmonary health and wellness. Past recipients of this prestigious award include Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Senator Frank Lautenberg, the American Lung Association, and the Allergy & Asthma Network—Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.

General Information

The award is funded by an endowment from Hudson Respiratory Care, Inc., formerly Hudson Oxygen Therapy Sales Company, and was established in 1986 in honor of the company’s founder, Charles H. Hudson, DDS.

This award consists of a plaque, coach airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for the AARC Congress.

Nomination ProcedureSubmit a typed letter of 1,000 words or less that answers each of the following questions as appropriate for the nominee. Nominees may include individuals, groups, or organizations whose primary effort has promoted cardiopulmonary health and wellness.

How has the nominee promoted cardiopulmonary health and wellness? Outline and describe major activities, events, research, or public policy the nominee has affected.

Describe how public cardiopulmonary health and awareness have been influenced through the efforts of the nominee.

Why is the nominee a role model for others in terms of public health?

How has the nominee promoted the objectives relative to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “Healthy People 2000,” the federal agenda for a healthier America?

Please include any supporting documentation and, in the case of an individual, a curriculum vitae, if available.

Nominations will be accepted at any time; however, the deadline for receiving nominations in the ARCF office is June 15. The award will be presented at the AARC Awards Ceremony.

Established in 2014, this award is named for Gary A. Smith, BS, RRT(HON), FAARC, the CEO and Executive Director of the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Mr. Smith has been instrumental in the advancement of the methods for national credentialing of respiratory therapists by facilitating the creation of web-based applications for processing, testing, appointment scheduling, and examination administration software.

General Information

Because of the efforts of Mr. Smith and his colleagues, the respiratory care profession is served by one of today’s most integrated test development and delivery systems in healthcare. Mr. Smith is also the editor of the book Respiratory Care—Evolution of a Profession.

This endowment has been established to recognize innovative educational methods in formal respiratory care education programs, clinical education training programs, and patient education programs that address current challenges in respiratory care education. The innovative educational method will be creative, utilize critical thinking skills, improve student outcomes, and focus on the advancement of the Respiratory Care profession.

The award for the individual submitting the nomination includes $2500, a plaque, coach airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for AARC Congress.

Nomination procedure

Nominations may be submitted for either an individual or a respiratory therapy program faculty. The nomination package includes:

Mike West, MBA, RRT Patient Education Achievement Award

Established in 2012, this award is named for Mike West, a Registered Respiratory Therapist, who recognized the importance of educating patients to help them manage chronic pulmonary diseases, and the profound impact such self-management has on patient respiratory quality of life.

General Information

Mike West made it his quest throughout his career to ensure that patients, caregivers, and industry had the highest understanding of respiratory disease and the best solutions for treating these diseases.

An endowment has been established to recognize excellence in patient education by, American Respiratory Care Foundation’s Trustees (ARCF), with a grant from Phillips Healthcare, to recognize a Respiratory Therapist who has had a profound impact on patients as established by measurable outcomes as a result of patient education.

This award includes a plaque, coach airfare, one night’s lodging, and registration for the AARC Congress.

Nomination ProcedureNominations will be invited from the AARC Board of Medical Advisors, the Board of Directors of the AARC, the Trustees of the ARCF, National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

The nominating group is responsible for submitting the following:

A complete and current biographical report on their nominee (curriculum vitae). Only one nominee (who is not a past recipient of the award) is allowed from each group.

A statement, including data which indicates the basis for the nomination, keeping the principle criterion of “promoting patient education” in mind. They should illustrate the nominee’s impact on patient education through novel training and education programs, adherence programs for patients, and improved outcomes of patients gained through education and feedback.

All nominations must be received by the ARCF Executive Office no later than June 15, and the award will be presented by the ARCF during the Awards Ceremony at the AARC Congress.

Past Award Recipients

2019—Joyce Baker, MBA, RRT, RRT-NPS, AE-C

2018—DeDe Gardner, DrPh, RRT, FAARC, FCCP

2017—David L. Vines, MHS, RRT

2016—Krystal Craddock, RRT-NPS, CCM

2015—Trina M. Limberg, BS, RRT, FAARC, MAACVPR

2014—Timothy Op’t Holt, RRT, AE-C, FAARC

2013—Bill F. Galvin, MSEd, RRT, CPFT, AE-C, FAARC

2012—Mike West, MBA, RRT

The above listed awards, grants and fellowships may have tax implications to the recipient. Depending on the circumstance and filing requirements, an information tax form (i.e. 1099) may or may not be issued from the ARCF. In any case, we recommend that all recipients consult with their tax advisor to ensure compliance with IRS regulations.

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The American Respiratory Care Foundation is a nonprofit organization formed for the purpose of supporting research, education, and charitable activities.

The ARCF seeks to educate the public about respiratory health, assist in the training and continuing education of health care providers, and improve the quality of our environment.

59th Respiratory Care JOURNAL CONFERENCE

June 8–9, 2021
St. Petersburg, FL

“COPD: Current Evidence and Implications for Practice”

ABOUT US

The American Respiratory Care Foundation is the nonprofit charitable arm of the American Association for Respiratory Care formed for the purpose of supporting research, education, and charitable activities. The ARCF seeks to educate the public about respiratory health, assist in the training and continuing education of health care providers, and improve the quality of our environment.